Multi-display device and method therefore

ABSTRACT

A multi-display device comprising: a plurality of display panels wherein each display panel is arranged in a housing; and a single video processor arranged within one of the housings and configured to output a different video signal to each of the plurality of display panels.

FIELD

The present patent document relates to multi-display devices and methodstherefore.

BACKGROUND

As the cost of display devices such as liquid crystal displays (LCDs)and plasma displays comes down in price, more display devices are beingintegrated into our daily lives. For example, bars and other businessesare placing more displays on their walls. Offices often have multipledisplay devices mounted on their walls. Conference rooms are usingmultiple display devices for video conferencing and presentations.Doctors and other professionals are upgrading their equipment with extradisplays to allow them to see multiple views while they work and morebusiness are using display devices for advertisements.

Multiple displays are now often found in situations where one displaywas adequate but two or more displays would be advantageous. Multipledisplays may allow people to watch more than one event simultaneously.In addition, multiple displays may allow doctors or other professionalsto simultaneously see more than one view of what they are working on.

However, mounting multiple displays can pose a problem if space islimited. Furthermore, despite the fact that the price of display deviceshas fallen considerably in recent times, buying two display devices isstill twice the cost of buying a single display device.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In view of the foregoing, an object according to one aspect of thepresent patent document is to provide improved multi-display devices andmethods therefore. Preferably the multi-display devices and methodsaddress, or at least ameliorate one or more of the problems describedabove. To this end, a multi-display device is provided. In oneembodiment, the multi-display device comprises: a plurality of displaypanels wherein each display panel is arranged in a housing; and a singlevideo processor arranged within one of the housings and configured tooutput a different video signal to each of the plurality of displaypanels.

In another embodiment, the multi-display device further comprises asingle chassis arranged within one of the housings, wherein the singlevideo processor is arranged on the chassis and wherein the chassis isconfigured to output an individual video signal to each of the pluralityof display panels.

In yet another embodiment, the multi-display device further comprises afirst digital demodulator arranged on the chassis and configured tooutput to the single video processor. In a further embodiment, themulti-display device further comprises a second digital demodulatorarranged on the chassis and configured to output to the single videoprocessor. In at least one embodiment the first digital demodulator andthe second digital demodulator are configured to demodulate differentmodulation schemes.

In another embodiment, the multi-display device further comprises aplurality of inputs arranged on at least one housing wherein the singlevideo processor is configured to allow selective output of the pluralityof inputs to each of the plurality of display panels.

In yet another embodiment, the multi-display device further comprises afirst plurality of inputs arranged on at least one housing andconfigured to output to a first display panel; and a second plurality ofinputs arranged on the at least one housing and configured to output toa second display panel.

In another embodiment, the multi-display device further comprises amechanical backing structure having a first display mounted thereon,wherein the mechanical backing structure includes a pivotally connectedportion with a second display mounted thereon and wherein, the pivotallyconnected portion is configured to allow the first and second displaypanels to be oriented in a side-by-side configuration and to allow thefirst and second display panels to be oriented in a one in front of theother configuration. In another embodiment, the pivotally connectedportion is configured to allow a one above the other configuration.

In yet another embodiment, the plurality of display panels includes afirst liquid crystal display panel and a second liquid crystal displaypanel.

In another embodiment, a multi-display device is provide; themulti-display device comprises: a first display panel arranged in afirst housing; a second display panel arranged in a second housing; anda single chassis arranged within the first housing and configured tooutput a different video signal to the first display panel and thesecond display panel.

In another embodiment, the multi-display device further comprises asingle system on a chip arranged on the chassis and configured to outputa plurality of individual video signals.

In yet another embodiment, a method of supporting multiple displays isprovided. The method comprises the steps of receiving at least one inputvideo signal by a single chassis contained within a first displayhousing; demultiplexing the video signal into at least two output videosignals; outputting a first video signal to a first display panel fromthe single chassis; and outputting a second video signal to a seconddisplay panel from the single chassis.

In one embodiment of the method the chassis processes the first videosignal and the second video signal with a single video processor.

The embodiments of the multi-display device and associated methods aredescribed more fully below. Further aspects, objects, desirablefeatures, and advantages of the multi-display device and methodsdisclosed herein will be better understood from the detailed descriptionand drawings that follow in which various embodiments are illustrated byway of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that thedrawings are for the purpose of illustration only and are not intendedas a definition of the limits of the claimed embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a display device.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of amulti-display device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of amulti-display device configured to accept signals multiple signals ofvarying standards.

FIG. 4 a illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented side-by-side.

FIG. 4 b illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented side-by-side.

FIG. 4 c illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented one in front of the other.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented one above the other.

FIG. 6 a illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented side-by-side.

FIG. 6 b illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented side-by-side.

FIG. 6 c illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented one in front of the other.

FIG. 7A illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of amulti-display device with multiple display panels slideably attachedwherein the second panel is in a stowed configuration.

FIG. 7B illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment of amulti-display device of FIG. 7A with the second panel in a deployedconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Consistent with its ordinary meaning, the term “display device” is usedherein to refer to an output device for presentation of information forvisual, tactile or auditive reception, acquired, stored, or transmittedin various forms. “Display device” includes electronic displays in whichthe input signal is supplied in an electronic form. By way of example“display device” includes but is not limited to televisions, monitors,liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs) andelectronic paper displays, to name a few.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a display device 10.Display device 10 includes a chassis 14 and a display panel 16. Chassis14 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) or in some embodiments, aplurality of PCB's. Chassis 14 is the guts of the display device andcontains the electronics, electronic chips, circuit boards, and cablesnecessary to process the necessary input signals 26 into a signal 18ready for display on display panel 16.

Display panel 16 may use any display technology including but notlimited to LCD, PDP, electronic paper, or any other type of displaytechnology. For example, an LCD display panel may consist of the LCDpanel, electronics to operate the panel such as gate drivers, and abacklight. In certain embodiments the backlight may be comprised oflight emitting diodes LEDs.

Both the chassis 14 and the display panel 18 are mounted in housing 12to form display device 10. In operation, display device 10 receives asignal 26 from a content provider such as a satellite or cable provider.Chassis 14 decodes and formats signal 26 into output signal 18 designedfor display on display panel 16. Display panel 16 receives signal 18 anddisplays the content on the display panel 18.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of amulti-display device 100. Multi-display device 100 includes multipledisplay panels 15 and 16. Display panels 15 and 16 may use anytechnology and may be any size or shape. Preferably display panels arelarge enough to view an image from a reasonable distance. However,depending on the application, display panels 15 and 16 may be anyappropriate size.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, a single chassis 14 provides electronicsupport for both display panels 15 and 16. Chassis 14 outputs twoseparate output signals 17 and 18. FIG. 2 shows output signals 17 and 18as low voltage differential signals (LVDS) 1 and 2. Low voltagedifferential signals are preferably used, however, other signal typesmay be used depending on the type of input the display panels 15 and 16are formatted to accept.

FIG. 2 shows a single chassis 14 supporting two display panels 15 and16, however in other embodiments, more than two display panels may beused. Using a single chassis 14 to provide a signal to multiple displaypanels may be advantageous for a number of reasons. Display panels arecheaper to manufacturer in smaller sizes. Consequently, manufacturingmultiple smaller displays may be cheaper than using one larger display.Supporting multiple display panels with a single chassis 14 further addsto cost savings. A single chassis 14 may also consume less power thanmultiple chassis's and create less waste heat.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, multiple LVDS signals, LVDS1 18 andLVDS2 17, are output from the single chassis 14. In the embodiment inFIG. 2, the single chassis supports outputting completely different LVDSsignals 17 and 18 such that display device 100 is capable ofsimultaneously showing two completely different images, video streams,channels, or stations on each of the displays panels 15 and 16.

In addition to simultaneously showing content from two completelydifferent sources on display panel 15 and 16, the embodiment of FIG. 2also has the capability to split a single image across both screens sothat the two display panels 15 and 16 display a single contiguous imageacross both display panels 15 and 16. However, the embodiment of FIG. 2may also send two unrelated completely different video streams to eachdisplay panel 15 and 16.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, each display panel 15 and 16 is arranged ina separate housing 12 and 13. In other embodiments, both display panelsmay be arranged in a single housing. In some embodiments, each of thedisplay panels has its own individual housing while in other embodimentsmore than one display panel may share a single housing. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, the single chassis 14 is contained within housing12. However in other embodiments, the single chassis 14 may be containedin a separate housing and only electrically connected to display panels15 and 16.

In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 2, the single chassis 14 contains asingle video processor 34. The single video processor is configured tosupport multiple output signals from multiple input sources. Having asingle video processor that supports multiple output signals frommultiple input signals is important to allow separate video streams tobe viewed on each display panel 15 and 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 2,the output signals are LVDS 17 and 18.

Although FIG. 2 shows a single video processor, in other embodiments thesingle chassis 14 may contain more than one video processor 34. Whilesome embodiments may use a single video processor 34 to transfer eachinput signal into an output signal, it is preferable that a single videoprocessor supports more than one input and output signal. Because videoprocessors 34 may be one of the more expensive components ofmulti-display device 100, using a single video processor 34 to supportmultiple input and output signals reduces the cost of manufacturing themulti-display device 100. In some embodiments, a multi-display devicehaving more than two display panels may use more than one videoprocessor 34 on a single chassis 14. Each video processor may supportmore than one output signal. For example, a multi-display device withfour display panels may use two video processors 34, each with twooutput signals, on a single chassis 14.

The single chassis 14 may include non-volatile memory 36 for access bythe video processor 34. Non-volatile memory 36 may be flash ormicro-disk or any other type of memory suitable for storage ofinformation. In addition, single chassis 14 may include volatile memorysuch as random access memory (RAM) 38 for use by the video processor 34.RAM 38 may be DDR, SDRAM, DIMM, SIMM or any other type of random accessmemory.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the single chassis 14 also includesEthernet ports 25 and universal serial bus (USB) ports 23. Both theEthernet ports 25 and the USB ports 23 may be arranged on the chassisand in digital communication with the video processor 34. Ethernet ports25 may be used to provide Internet access to display device 100. Displaydevice 100 may display content from the internet including websites,internet protocol television (IPTV) or any other content available onthe Internet. In addition, Ethernet ports 25 may be used to supportdigital signage and the information related thereto.

In certain embodiments, the single chassis 14 may also include USB ports23. Universal serial bus ports 23 allow the display device 100 to easilycommunicate with other electronics that support a USB connection.Supporting a USB connection with another digital device allows thedisplay device 100 to easily and quickly display content from thatdevice. For example, digital phones, digital music and video players,and cameras typically support USB connections and may quickly displaytheir content on display device 100 through a USB connection. Othermedia such as memory cards, memory sticks, and other non-volatile memorymay be supported through the USB ports 23. The USB ports 23 may alsosupport connections to allow the display device 100 to support otherfunctions such as digital signage.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the single chassis 14 is configured toaccept a signal 26 from a cable or satellite provider and display one ormore channels of signal 26 on the display panels 15 and 16. Signal 26may contain digital and/or analog signals including both video andaudio. However, signal 26 is often modulated and encoded. In theembodiment of FIG. 2, the single chassis 14 includes tuner 28, decoder30, and demodulator 32 to preprocess signal 26 before sending it to thevideo processor 34.

The transmission of audio and video is primarily governed by standardsin order to ensure compatibility. In most of North America including theUnited States, video is transmitted using the Advanced TelevisionSystems Committee ATSC standard. ATSC uses the MPEG transport stream toencapsulate and send data. Before the display device 100 decodes theaudio and video, the display device 100 must demodulate and apply errorcorrection to the signal. Then, the transport stream may bedemultiplexed into its constituent streams.

While ATSC is primarily used in North America, many other parts of theworld use other standards including DVB/T (Europe and Asia), ISDB-T(South America), and DMB-T/H (China). Many of these standards usedifferent modulation schemes. In addition, cable providers may usedifferent modulation schemes within the ATSC standard including 8VSB,16VSB and 256-QAM defined by the Society of Cable TelecommunicationEngineers (SCTE).

To this end, some embodiments of the present patent document may haveadditional components on the single chassis 14 to support handlingmultiple input signals conforming to different standards or schemes. Forexample, in one embodiment more than one demodulator 32 is arranged onthe single chassis 14 to demodulate different input signals based ondifferent modulation standards. Embodiments with more than onedemodulator 32 may display different signals from different countries oneach of the display panels 15 and 16.

In some embodiments, the single chassis 14 may include multiple othercomponents in addition to multiple demodulators 32. For example, thesingle chassis 14 may include multiple tuners 28 and/or decoders 30. Theaddition of multiple components such as tuners 28 and decoders 30 allowthe display device 100 to more flexibly support displaying individualcontents streams on display panels 15 and 16.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the single chassis 14 also includes a powersupply 22. The power supply 22 supplies power to all the chips on thesingle chassis 14. In other embodiments the power supply 22 may supplypower to the chassis 14 but be located off of the chassis 14.

In addition, the single chassis 14 may also include numerous additionalInput/Output (I/O) ports. Input/Output ports may include HDMI, componentvideo, DVI, VGA, SVGA, or any other type of video port. Input/Outputports may also include audio ports such as digital and analog audio.Signals coming in through the I/O ports may be routed to either displaypanel 15 or 16 via video processor 34.

In a preferred embodiment and as shown in FIG. 2, the single chassis 14also supports audio to accompany the video. Video processor 34 may alsooutput audio to speakers 20. The speakers 20 may be integrated into oneor more housings 12 and/or 13. In other embodiments, the speakers 20 maynot be included in multi-display device 10 and only an output audiosignal is provide for output to other speakers.

In embodiments where multiple input signals are being handled that eachcontain audio, display device 100 may include the ability to allowselection of the audio stream to be broadcast by speakers 20. Forexample, the display device may mute one of the audio streams and onlysend the other audio stream to the speakers 20. The muted audio streammay be swapped at any time.

In other embodiments, display device 100 may have speakers mounted ineach housing 12 and 13. In such an embodiment, display device 100 may beable to send individual audio signals to the speakers 20 in each of thehousings 12 and 13. The displace device may also be able to swap theaudio signals from one housing to the other and or individually muteeach audio signal.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of amulti-display device configured to accept multiple signals of varyingstandards. The embodiment of FIG. 3 is similar to the embodiment of FIG.2 except the embodiment of FIG. 3 has multiple tuners 28, multipledecoders 30, and multiple demodulators 32. Preferably, FIG. 3 may beused to decode and display multiple input signals 26 and 40simultaneously on display panels 15 and 16. Input signals 26 and 40 maybe encoded and/or modulated using different standards from differentparts of the world or may be two separate signals of the same standard.

Although the embodiments of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a video processor 34with other chips present such as decoder 30 and demodulation 32,numerous functions may be integrated into video processor 34. Instead ofjust a video processor 34 and multiple other chips, embodiments of thepresent patent document may use a System On a Chip (SOC). SOCsincorporate additional functionality into a single chip such as thevideo processor chip 34. For example, the video processor or SOC 34 mayperform numerous functions for the display device 100 includingprocessing, scaling, deinterlacing, filtering, enhancement processing,contrast management, and display of user menus to name a few. Inaddition, some SOCs may perform the decoding and demodulation on thechip as well.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 200 with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented in a side-by-side configuration.Multi-display device 200 includes a backing structure with a pivotalmount member 204 and display panels 201 and 202. Because the multipledisplay panels 201 and 202 share a single chassis in multi-displaydevice 200, the display panels 201 and 202 will be mounted in closeproximity. Consequently in the preferred embodiment, a mounting systemmay be used to allow easy orientation of the display panels 201 and 202.

FIG. 4B illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 200 with multiple display panels 201 and 202 mounted on apivotally connected backing structure and oriented side-by-side. In theembodiment of FIG. 4 b, the backing structure includes a pivot point204.

The backing structure of the embodiment of FIG. 4B includes members 208and 210. Members 208 and 210 are slideably contained in slots 206 and212 that run along the back of display panels 201 and 202. This allowsthe pivot member 204 to slide from between display panels 201 and 202when the display panels are oriented side-by-side, to along side displaypanels 201 and 202 when the display panels are mounted one in front ofthe other.

FIG. 4C illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 200 with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented one in front of the other. In theconfiguration and view of FIG. 4C, pivotal member 204 has moved off tothe side of the display panels 201 and 202 and the panels are mounted ina one in front of the other configuration.

As may be seen by FIGS. 4B and 4C, only slot 206 is required in theembodiment as shown and member 210 is not required to slide along slot212. In some embodiments, slot 212 is not needed and member 210 may berigidly or pivotally connected to the backing structure without slot212.

When a backing structure is used to support and connect display panels201 and 202, electrical wiring may be run through the backing structure.For example, in the embodiment of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C, the singlechassis may be arranged in one of the housings behind display panel 201or 202. The electrical wiring carrying the signal to the other displaypanel may be run through or inside the backing structure.

In one embodiment, display panels 210 and 202 may be moved manually fromthe side by side configuration shown in FIG. 4B to the one in front ofthe other configuration shown in FIG. 4C. In other embodiments, a motoror motors (not shown) may be provided in the backing structure to allowthe display panels to change configurations automatically. For example,in one embodiment a motor may be provided within pivotal mount member204 and another motor in communication with member 208 and slot 206 suchthat the multi-panel display device 200 may transition from the side byside configuration shown in FIG. 4B to the one in front of the otherconfiguration shown in FIG. 4C.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 is just one possible method for mountingdisplay panels 201 and 202. Numerous other multi-panel displayconfigurations and backing structure designs are possible.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 300 with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented one above the other. The embodiment ofFIG. 5 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4A except the backingstructure is configured to rotate the display panels 201 and 202 oneabove the other instead of side-by-side. Having a backing structure thatallows the panels to be mounted one above the other is just one of themany variations possible with the backing structure of a multi-paneldisplay.

FIG. 6A illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 400 with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented side-by-side. The embodiment of FIG. 6Ais similar to the embodiment of 4A except the backing structure has aslightly different design. The backing structure of FIG. 6A usesmultiple pivots 402 and 404 to allow the backing structure to betterwrap around the display panels 201 and 202. In the embodiment of FIG.6A, segment 406 spans the pivot points 402 and 404.

FIG. 6B illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 400 with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented side-by-side. Similar to FIG. 4B, theembodiment of FIG. 6B shows the panels mounted in a side-by-sideorientation. Also similar to the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the embodimentof FIG. 6B has slots that run along the length of the backing structurethat allow member 408 and 410 to slideably attach.

While the embodiment of FIG. 6B has members 408 and 410 slideablyattached, other embodiments have only one of member 408 or 410 slideablyattached. For example, display panel 202 may be hard mounted to a walland member 408 may be rigidly or pivotally attached to the backingstructure. Display panel 201 could then still be oriented into a one infront of the other configuration by pivoting at 402 and 404 and slidingmember 410 to the other side of slot 206. In such an embodiment, 212does not need to be a slot at all and no addition backing structure maybe needed.

FIG. 6C illustrates a top view of an embodiment of a multi-displaydevice 400 with multiple display panels mounted on a pivotally connectedbacking structure and oriented one in front of the other. As may be seenby FIG. 6C, using multiple pivot points 402 and 406 gives the backingstructure a smaller profile and allows the display panels 201 and 202 tobe mounted more closely together than using a single pivot point.Although multi-display devices 200 and 400 use one pivot and two pivotsrespectively, any number of pivots may be used to allow the displaypanels to be mounted in the various orientations as shown in FIGS. 4-6.

FIG. 7A illustrates an isometric view of an embodiment of amulti-display device 500 with multiple display panels slideably attachedwherein the second panel 520 is in a stowed configuration. In theembodiment of FIG. 7A, the displays are slideably connected to allow asecond display 520 to slide out from behind a first display 510.

FIG. 7B illustrates an isometric view of the embodiment of amulti-display device 500 of FIG. 7A with the second panel 520 in adeployed configuration. Although in FIG. 7B the second panel 520 isdeployed to the right of the first panel 510, the panels may deploy inother configurations. For example, the panels may deploy in a verticalmanner so that the second display panel 520 is above the first displaypanel 510.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7B, the second panel 520 is smaller thanthe first panel 510. However in other embodiments, other relative sizesfor the display panels 510 and 520 may be used. For example, the displaypanels may be the same size. One advantage of having the second displaypanel 520 smaller than the first display panel 510 is that the seconddisplay panel 520 may fit entirely inside the housing of the firstdisplay panel 510 and thus may be completely concealed in the stowedconfiguration as illustrated in FIG. 7A. However in other embodiments,the second display panel 520 may simply slide from behind the firstdisplay panel 510 such that the second display panel 520 is concealedonly by the silhouette of the first display panel 510.

The second display panel 520 may be slideably connected to the firstdisplay panel 510 using any number of methods. In the preferredembodiment, a bearing and rail system is used. However, other methods ofslideably connecting two items may be used. For example, the seconddisplay panel 520 may be connected to the first display panel 510 usingcastors and rails, track mounts, roller bearings, or any other type ofconnection that allows relative motion.

Although the embodiments have been described with reference to preferredconfigurations and specific examples, it will readily be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that many modifications and adaptations of themulti-display device and methods therefore described herein are possiblewithout departure from the spirit and scope of the embodiments asclaimed hereinafter. Thus, it is to be clearly understood that thisdescription is made only by way of example and not as a limitation onthe scope of the embodiments as claimed below.

1. A multi-display device comprising: a plurality of display panelswherein each display panel is arranged in a housing; and a single videoprocessor arranged within one of the housings and configured to output adifferent video signal originating from different inputs to each of theplurality of display panels.
 2. The multi-display device of claim 1,further comprising a single chassis arranged within one of the housings,wherein the single video processor is arranged on the chassis andwherein the chassis is configured to output the different video signaloriginating from different inputs to each of the plurality of displaypanels.
 3. The multi-display device of claim 2, further comprising afirst digital demodulator arranged on the chassis and configured tooutput to the single video processor.
 4. The multi-display device ofclaim 3, further comprising a second digital demodulator arranged on thechassis and configured to output to the single video processor.
 5. Themulti-display device of claim 4, wherein the first digital demodulatorand the second digital demodulator are configured to demodulatedifferent modulation schemes.
 6. The multi-display device of claim 1,further comprising a plurality of inputs arranged on at least onehousing wherein the single video processor is configured to allowselective output of the plurality of inputs to each of the plurality ofdisplay panels.
 7. The multi-display device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a first plurality of inputs arranged on at least one housingand configured to output to a first display panel; and a secondplurality of inputs arranged on the at least one housing and configuredto output to a second display panel.
 8. The multi-display device ofclaim 1, further comprising a mechanical backing structure having afirst display mounted thereon, wherein the mechanical backing structureincludes a pivotally connected portion with a second display mountedthereon and wherein, the pivotally connected portion is configured toallow the first and second display panels to be oriented in aside-by-side configuration and to allow the first and second displaypanels to be oriented in a one in front of the other configuration. 9.The multi-display device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanicalbacking structure having a first display mounted thereon, wherein themechanical backing structure includes a pivotally connected portion witha second display mounted thereon and wherein, the pivotally connectedportion is configured to allow the first and second display panels to beoriented in a one above the other configuration and to allow the firstand second display panels to be oriented in a one in front of the otherconfiguration.
 10. The multi-display device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of display panels includes a first liquid crystal displaypanel and a second liquid crystal display panel.
 11. A multi-displaydevice comprising: a first display panel arranged in a first housing; asecond display panel arranged in a second housing; and a single chassisarranged within the first housing and configured to output a differentvideo signal to the first display panel and the second display panel.12. The multi-display device of claim 11, further comprising a singlesystem on a chip arranged on the chassis and configured to output aplurality of individual video signals.
 13. The multi-display device ofclaim 12, further comprising a first digital demodulator arranged in thesystem on a chip.
 14. The multi-display device of claim 13, furthercomprising a second digital demodulator arranged in the system on achip.
 15. The multi-display device of claim 14, wherein the firstdigital demodulator and the second digital demodulator are configured todemodulate different modulation schemes.
 16. The multi-display device ofclaim 11, further comprising a plurality of inputs arranged on the firsthousing wherein the single system on a chip is configured to allowselective output of the plurality of inputs to the first display paneland the second display panel.
 17. The multi-display device of claim 1,further comprising: a first plurality of inputs arranged on the firsthousing and configured to output to the first display panel through thesystem on a chip; and a second plurality of inputs arranged on the firsthousing and configured to output to a second display panel through thesystem on a chip.
 18. The multi-display device of claim 11, furthercomprising a mechanical backing structure having a first display mountedthereon, wherein the mechanical backing structure includes a pivotallyconnected portion with a second display mounted thereon and wherein, thepivotally connected portion is configured to allow the first and seconddisplay panels to be oriented in a side-by-side configuration and toallow the first and second display panels to be oriented in a one infront of the other configuration.
 19. The multi-display device of claim11, further comprising a mechanical backing structure having a firstdisplay mounted thereon, wherein the mechanical backing structureincludes a pivotally connected portion with a second display mountedthereon and wherein, the pivotally connected portion is configured toallow the first and second display panels to be oriented in a one abovethe other configuration and to allow the first and second display panelsto be oriented in a one in front of the other configuration.
 20. Themulti-display device of claim 11, wherein the first display panel is afirst liquid crystal display panel and the second display panel is asecond liquid crystal display panel.
 21. A method of supporting multipledisplays comprising the steps of: receiving at least one multiplexedinput video signal by a single chassis contained within a first displayhousing; demultiplexing the video signal into a plurality of videosignals; outputting a first video signal to a first display panel fromthe single chassis; and outputting a second video signal to a seconddisplay panel from the single chassis.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein the chassis processes the first video signal and the secondvideo signal with a single video processor.